PRESIDENT FERDINAND Marcos Jr. has appointed 77 members of the Bangsamoro Parliament in a major reshuffle, with newly appointed lawmakers taking their oath before interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua on March 15 in Manila.
The appointments, signed on March 3, include 58 reappointments from the previous Parliament and 19 new members.
Three parliamentary seats remain vacant, and the Bangsamoro government is awaiting official confirmation on who will fill these positions. Officials are also expecting the formal transmittal of the complete list of members of Parliament from Malacañang.
The new lawmakers will serve a seven-month term until the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections in October 2025.
The transition follows the enactment of Republic Act No. 12123, which postponed the elections initially scheduled for May 2025, allowing for a smoother shift to a fully elected government.
Macacua, chief of staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, now leads the interim government after being appointed chief minister by Marcos.
He replaced Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), who had served as chief minister since the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was established in 2019. Ebrahim, however, remains a member of Parliament.
Despite the change in leadership, the interim Bangsamoro government remains under the MILF’s leadership, as mandated by the Bangsamoro Organic Law. The MILF continues to oversee the transition process until the region holds its first parliamentary elections.
Macacua assured continuity in governance but emphasized accountability.
“The ministries will remain in status quo, but status quo does not mean complacency. A thorough review of performance will be undertaken,” he said.
Macacua also stressed the need to study the status of Sulu’s parliamentary seats following the province’s exclusion from BARMM based on the Supreme Court’s decision. Under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, Sulu was originally allocated seven district seats in the 80-member Parliament.
He urged lawmakers to fast-track the passage of the Bangsamoro Revenue Code-the last priority legislation needed to complete the region’s foundational governance framework.
The Bangsamoro Parliament will convene for its fourth regular session on April 8, where lawmakers are expected to prioritize this measure.
Since its establishment, the Bangsamoro Parliament has passed 72 bills, including priority codes on administration, education, civil service, local government, elections, and Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
Speaker Pangalian Balindong reaffirmed the Parliament’s commitment to a smooth transition.
“Our goal is to finish this term strong, ensuring good governance, development, and peace for our people,” he said.
Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., who attended the oath-taking, reiterated the national government’s support for the Bangsamoro transition.
“We are hopeful to continue all the progress we have made over the years,” said Galvez. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)
20
